(from Porsche
Press Release) Porsche today
announced that the new 911 Targa 4 and 911 Targa 4S will go on sale
in November, 2006. For the first time, the Targa models will be
available exclusively with permanent all-wheel drive and a rear body
profile that is 44 millimeters (1.73 in.) wider than the standard
911 Carrera®.

Porsche’s Targa concept, originally launched in 1966 and named after
the storied Targa Florio race, was the first car of its type to
offer all the driving sensations of a convertible without
sacrificing the benefits of a solid roof. Then and now, the Targa
continues to evoke a distinct cache unlike any other sports car,
conveying serious sports car performance with the free-spirited
thrill of open-air motoring.

As with the previous Targa model, the most striking feature of the
elegant sports car is the large, sliding-glass roof and glass rear
hatch, which blend sleekly into the classic 911 lines while
providing the Targa with its own unique personality. A polished,
anodized aluminum trim strip runs the entire length of the roof
frame, emphasizing the 911’s classic silhouette.

The glass roof is not just a styling exercise, however, as it also
provides for a light, airy interior. Moreover, the electrically
operated roof panel can be retracted at all vehicle speeds in only
seven seconds, revealing a spacious 4.8 square-foot (0.45 m/sq.)
opening. Made of specially tinted two-ply glass, the new Targa’s
translucent top is 4.2 pounds (1.9 kg) lighter than its predecessor,
and wind noise is kept low at higher road speeds by a newly
developed sealing system. With the top open, turbulence within the
cabin is also reduced by a wind deflector, encouraging open-roof
motoring even at lower ambient temperatures. A semi-translucent,
black-cloth sunblind provides protection from excessive sunlight,
and both the glass roof and roller blind are operated by a rocker
switch located on the center console.

Gas struts make it easy to open the upward-tilting rear window,
providing access to over 8 cubic-feet (230 liters) of cargo capacity
with the rear seats in the folded position. The tailgate can either
be unlocked by a switch on the driver’s-side doorsill or by the
remote control button on the key fob.

The 911 Targa 4 is powered by Porsche’s venerable flat-Six Boxer
engine, delivering 325 horsepower from 3.6 liters. The Targa 4 will
accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds (0-100 km/h, 5.3 sec.)
and reach a top test-track speed of 174 mph (280 km/h). The more
powerful Targa 4S variant features a 3.8-liter engine producing 355
horsepower. This model sprints from 0 to 60 mph in only 4.7 seconds
(0-100 km/h, 4.9 sec.), and has a top test-track speed of 179 mph
(288 km/h).

As with the Coupe and Cabriolet versions of the Carrera 4 and 4S,
power is transmitted to the pavement by a standard all-wheel drive
system featuring a viscous, multi-plate clutch. Depending on driving
conditions, the all-wheel-drive setup distributes between 5- and
40-percent of the engine’s torque to the front wheels. The
all-wheel-drive system ensures well-balanced proportioning of power
in corners during spirited driving and improves traction on wet or
slippery road surfaces.

The Porsche 911 Targa 4 and 911 Targa 4S go on sale in North America
in November. Pricing for the new models in the U.S. and Canada is
$85,700 (USD) and $119,100 (CAD) for the Targa 4, and $95,900 (USD)
and $133,200 (CAN) for the Targa 4S.